Biological Basis and Cultural Influence of Environmental Aesthetic as well as Design and Application

Environmental aesthetic preference of human is influenced by the biological instinct formed in the long-term evolution, and by the culture. The former considered that the environment that statisfies human survival and reproduction is beautiful. Based on this idea, previous researchers put forward four theories: habitat theory, prospect-refuge theory, cognitive theory and information processing theory, which are endowed the characteristic of perfect combination between form and content. The intluence of cultural on human environmental aesthetic is mainly manifested in the following aspects: 1) the adjustment and change of biological basis; 2) the changes of environmental aesthetic appeal; 3) for the same aesthetic objects, there being the differences among individuals and small groups. There are interactions between biological basis and cultural development, and the two always joint together to influence people's environmental aesthetic preference. So, environmental design must attach importance to both of them to design the works with the home sense.